Playoff Preview...

True to my title, here's my thoughts on the upcoming playoff series' in the American and National League.

American League

Every team in the American league playoffs has holes and two teams that are very opposite will be facing off. The strengths of Anaheim and Chicago are in pitching, and the strengths of Boston and New York are at the plate. We all know the old playoff baseball axiom, good pitching always beats good hitting...but does good pitching beat great hitting. Lets find out.

Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox

Matchups:
Game 1, Contreras V. Clement
Game 2, Buehrle v. Wells
Game 3, Garcia v. Wakefield
Game 4, Garland v. Schilling
Game 5, Contreras/Buehrle v. Undecided

The White Sox have the pitching edge in every game of this series, no matter who gets thrown out there by Boston in game 5. The key is for the White Sox pitchers to actually pitch like they have an advantage as they have been spotty lately on the mound. The only consistent one in the second half has been Contreras who sported a 2.96 ERA post all-star break winning his last 8 starts down the stretch (who would have guessed that during spring training). However against the BoSox he has posted a 11.67 ERA during the regular season and a 5.79 ERA during the postseason in 31.2 inn.

Boston has a significant advantage on the bats, especially with David Ortiz hitting everything in sight lately. The White Sox have experience in one-run games this season going 35-19. Will this experience help them, I think so. The Red Sox rotation is just too beat up and they will be counting on too many rookies out of the pen this postseason (Papelbon, Hansen, DiNardo) and no true closer. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will be under heavy critization for not putting rookie phenom Brandon McCarthy on the roster if they lose.
WHITE SOX in 5.


Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. New York Yankees

Matchups:
Game 1, Colon v. Mussina
Game 2, Lackey v. Wang
Game 3, Byrd v. Johnson
Game 4, Washburn/Santana v. Chacon
Game 5, Undecided for both

Again we have here another pitching vs. hitting matchup. The Yankees have a decisive hitting edge while the Angels take the pitching edge - both in the pen and on the mound. The Yankees still have the best closer in the game in Mariano Rivera and good setup men in Tom Gordon and Tanyon Sturtze, but the Angles have had the most dominating bullpen since 2002.

Although the Yankees have great hitting, the Angles have some production as well, with the main source of it being Vlad Guerrero - the best bad-ball hitter in baseball. They also have Bengie Molina, Garrett Anderson, and possibly Steve Finely to provide some thump. Chone Figgins races around the bases almost as much as Scott Posednik, but at a higher success rate. On paper the Yankees pitching looks better but in real life it wont be.
ANGELS in 4.


National League

The National league has four ballclubs with great pitching in the postseason, so if you like old-timey baseball this will be your year.


St.Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres

Matchups:
Game 1, Peavy v. Carpenter
Game 2, Astacio v. Mulder
Game 3, Williams v. Morris
Game 4, Peavy v. Undecided
Game 5, Eaton v. Undecided

At first you look at this series and think, "Cardinals in a walk". But if you examine it more closely you'll see that the Cardinals might be in some serious trouble here. Peavy is a top pitcher in the game and more than capable of shutting the Redbirds out in his two starts. Astacio has given up earned runs of 1,2,1,2,1,2,2 while going at least 6 innings in his starts since August 6th. Eaton has electric stuff if he is on, like he was in his final start on Sunday against LA. The Bullpen comprised of Seanez, Otsuka, Linebrink, and Hoffman is better than St.Louis' Flores, King, Tavarez, and Irsinghausen - now that Al Reyes is out for the season. My question though is why pitch Williams, who has a career 2.91 ERA at Busch, at home and not in game 2.

Matt Morris is 1-5 career with a 4.06 ERA in the postseason. Jason Marquis was roughed up last year in the postseason. Scott Rolen is out for the playoffs. Edmonds, Sanders, and Walker can still rake - while Pulojs is the best hitter in baseball. Eckstien is a competent leadoff/no.2 man - depending where Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa puts him. The key on offense for this series is if the Cardinal pitchers can shut down the San Diego offense on the road, where almost all of their players are much much better. Will that happen, I don't think so.
PADRES in 5.


Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros

Matchups:
Game 1, Pettite v. Hudson
Game 2, Clemens v. Smoltz
Game 3, Oswalt v. Sosa
Game 4, Undecided for both
Game 5, Undecided for both

Although its been said all season, the Braves will be using too many rookies in its everyday lineup with Francouer and Langerhans playing the corners in the outfield, and boths production have dropped recently, not to mention catcher Brian McCann if Johnny Estrada's back acts up again. This will also force them to carry 3 catchers taking up another roster spot from someone that could potentially help them. Their Bullpen is in shambles, with their closer changing hands throughout the season. Is The Farns a World Series closer?

Atlanta has two excellent starters in Smoltz and Hudson, but is John Smoltz the dominant playoff starter he once before his conversion to closer? The Astros have three excellent starters in Pettite, Oswalt, and Clemens, an excellent setup man in Dan Wheeler, as well as a dominant closer in Brad Lidge. Yes Andruw Jones has been a power juggernaut this season (think Kenny Williams wants to go back and make that trade) The offense of Atlanta is not significantly greater than Houstons either - at least not as big as the difference between Houston's pitching edge over the Braves.
HOUSTON in 4.


ALCS
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Chicago White Sox in 7.

NLCS
Houston Astros over San Diego Padres in 6.


World Series
Houston Astros over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 7.


Yep, I think Houston's pitching will take them to the Series, as much as I hate to write it. Stay tuned, see what happens, see if I'm right. Hopefully I'll be able to put the Cubbies in as world series champs next year.